‘They think I’m doing some ‘chaotic genius’ strategy’: Chess lover demands a 2nd date with a guy after he accidentally wins a chess tournament, not realizing he doesn't actually know how to play

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jun 21, 2025 11:30 AM EDT

Chess is very strategic, with most good players planning their moves 10 moves in advance. With all the possible outcomes, a lot of chess is really about predicting the strategy of your opponent, so what do you do when your opponent is entirely unpredictable? Like the 'drunken samurai' technique, unpredictability can be your best bet in a chess match—especially if you don't actually know the rules of the game. 

This guy wanted to impress his chess-loving date, but made the mistake of expressing a misplaced interest in her love for chess. Thinking he was crushing this whole 'flirting' thing, he told her that he'd always loved chess too (What a coincidence!) When in reality, he didn't know the difference between a Rook and the Queen. Naturally, he also didn't realize that this little white lie would land him a spot in the local chess tournament for his first date. 

Will he get a second date out of this? Only his chaotic chess-playing technique would know for sure.

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  • Cheezburger Image 10517585664
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I faked knowing chess to impress my date. Now I'm somehow ranked in a tournament.
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  • So I matched with this girl on a dating app. She was cool, artsy, and casually mentioned she loved playing chess. I panicked and said, "No way, I love chess too."
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  • Lie. The last time I played chess was in grade 5 and I used the horse to attack everything.
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  • She invites me to a cute little café that hosts weekly chess nights. I thought it was just for fun... until we get there and realize it's a bracketed tournament. With timers. And prize money.
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  • I try to confess but she's so excited I can't bring myself to ruin it. So I sit down for the first round against this kid who looked 11. I figure, "okay, I'll lose and be done."
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  • Except he's extremely overconfident. Trash talking me. So when I make dumb, random moves... he overthinks everything. I win. Pure luck. Everyone claps.
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  • Suddenly I'm in Round 2. Then Round 3. Each win is just me making weird, unpredictable moves that confuse
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  • actual players. They think I'm doing some "chaotic genius" strategy. A guy even asked if I studied under some Russian grandmaster.
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  • I'm now somehow in the semi- finals next week. I bought a book called "Chess for Complete Idiots" and have 6 days to figure out how not to get destroyed in 10 seconds.
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  • She still thinks I'm a chess god. I just learned how the bishop moves yesterday.
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  • IwasDeadinstead ⚫ You said you love it. Not that you were good at it. Get beat early and laugh it off about how terrible you are. Ask her to teach you to be better.
    via IwasDeadinstead
  • JayMish ⚫ If they're capable enough to notice erratic moves, meaning they have an idea of openings and all and are playing competitively, not just for fun,
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  • then they would easily have defeated you in a chess game with no troubles even if they don't recognize the moves you make. This doesn't ring true to me, not through multiple games
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  • and people. You could throw a beginner off or a child who doesn't live chess all the time, but you're not gonna make it far in a real tournament if all you know how to do is move the pieces, allegedly.
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  • SeeWhatSantaBrings ⚫ Here's a real story: my mom went to a small town bar, and a man asked her to play chess with him. She didn't know how to play and he explained the
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  • rules to her. She was making all illegal moves, but he told her she was winning and was excited for her like a parent with a 4 year old. Long story short, I exist because of chess.
    via SeeWhatSantaBrings

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first date wholesome geeky date relationships chess tournament sweet chess tournament amateur
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